FASHION IN THE 1850s

Fashion in the 1850's said a lot about a person's life. A well tailored outfit usually meant that the people was wealthy and could afford to see a tailor. A well worn dress or suit of clothes that did not quite fit insinuated that the wearer was of a lower class. This philosophy began to change with the invention of the sewing machine. The sewing machine allowed people to make more elaborate clothing at a faster rate. Women's clothing and children's clothing tended to get more elaborate, while men's clothing remained elegant and understated. Women loved the idea of a tiny waist with yards of material in the skirt. The corset was being worn along with a metal hoop and crinoline to make the desired effect of a tiny waist with a huge skirt. Women loved the elegance and extravagance of the dress and the look it gave them. Women were equally extravagant and frilly in regards to dressing their children. On the proceeeding pages, illustrations of children's, women's and men's dress are shown.